Official's Signals

Ball Illegally Touched, Kicked or Batted: Any intentional batting of a loose ball or ball in player
possession.  10 yard penalty.












Dead Ball or Neutral Zone Established: Usually in the case of a dead ball foul, the referee will raise his hand and indicate such through his communications device.  A dead ball foul is one that occurs after the play has been blown dead and are usually of the 15 yard variety, either Unneccesary Roughness or Unsportsman like conduct.  Unlike a live ball foul, a dead ball foul is marked off from the spot that the play was blown dead instead of from the previous line of scrimmage.

When signaling that the neutral zone has been established, the referee will stand in the neutral zone (usually stradling the football) and raise one open hand.  If it is fourth down, he will raise a fist instead.












Delay of Game: An action that delays the start of the next play.  On offense, this is simply allowing the play clock to expire before snapping the ball.  On defense, this penalty can be called if a tackler doesn't allow the offensive ball carrier up in a timely manner to facilitate the start of the next play. The penalty yardage assessed in 5 yards.
















Facemask: Grasping the face mask of an opposing player while attempting to block or tackle him.  A major penalty of the Personal Foul variety, it is a 15 yard infraction that carries with it an automatic first down if committed by the defense.



















False Start: An offensive player that moves in any manner after becoming set in his stance is declared to have committed a false start.  It is considered a dead ball foul since the foul is committed before the snap of the ball.  If they play starts simulataniously, the referee will immediately whistle the play dead and assess the offense a five-yard penalty.

First Down: At the start of an offensive series the referee will signal first down by motioning in the direction the offense will be moving. The offense then has four downs to try and gain 10 yards.  If successful, the referee will signal first down, and the offense will receive another four down to make 10 yards. Normally, if a team can not gain the needed yardage in the first three downs, they will opt to punt the ball away to the defensive team on 4th down.













Holding: The most common of all penalties. A hold has occurred if a player on either side of the line of scrimmage grasps or pulls an opponent who does not have possession of the football. If committed by the offense, a 10-yard penalty is assessed (Holding calls are often referred to as "Drive killers"), if the defense commits the infraction, they are assessed only a five yard penalty, but the offense is also awarded an automatic first down.















Illegal Contact: A defensive penalty committed by a defender by making significant contact with a receiver after he has crossed through the five-yard buffer zone that extends out from the line of scrimmage.  The penalty can only be called if the quarterback is in the pocket and in possession of the ball - any contact made with the receiver after that point must be called pass interference.  The penalty results in the officials advancing the ball five yards from the line of scrimmage and also awards the the offense an automatic first down.

Illegal Shift: All eleven players on the offense must remain set for a period of one second before the ball is snapped.  To violate this rule, a player must not be set for a full second before the snap.  The other way that this penalty can manifest is if two players are in motion at the same time.